First Severe U.S. Human Case of H5N1 Bird Flu Reported in Louisiana

The United States has recorded its first severe human case of H5N1 bird flu, with a Louisiana resident hospitalized after exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. This case, confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), marks the first U.S. human infection linked to backyard poultry.

Key Highlights:

• Case Details:
  The Louisiana patient was exposed to infected birds but symptoms remain undisclosed. This case is part of a broader trend, with over 60 bird flu infections reported in 2023, more than half in California.
• Undetermined Cases in Other States:
  Health officials are investigating two additional cases—a Missouri adult and a California child—where the source of infection remains unclear.
• No Person-to-Person Transmission:
  Officials have emphasized that bird flu remains primarily an animal health issue. Importantly, there is no documented spread of H5N1 from person to person, keeping the risk to the general public low.

Prevention Measures:

To reduce the risk of H5 bird flu infection:

• Avoid exposure to sick or dead birds.
• Be cautious around backyard poultry flocks.
• Practice good hygiene if handling birds or their byproducts.

Infected birds can shed the virus through saliva, mucous, and feces, while other animals may spread the virus through respiratory secretions.

Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely, reaffirming that the risk to the public is minimal but urging caution in handling potentially infected birds.

Source: India Today

Photo Credit: India Today